Land Snails

Photo(s): Ventridens suppressus image © Ken Hotopp.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Ventridens suppressus (Hubricht, 1964)

Family: Gastrodontidae
Common name: Yellow Dome

Identification
Width: 5.5-7.0 mm
Height: 3.5-4.0 mm
Whorls: ≈6

This animal has a small, low dome-shaped shell with a small umbilicus. It is sculptured with numerous growth lines with irregular spacing. In the aperture is a whitish basal callus with a single low ridge or lamina. Most shells, excepting some of the oldest, also possess a basal tooth. The animal is dark-colored, which gives the translucent shell a darker tint as well in live animals.

Ventridens suppressus has a “sister” species, V. virginicus, which is about the same size and shape. However, V. suppressus has less convex whorls and a slightly more pointed apex. These two species are never found together.

Ecology
This animal is a denizen of wooded slopes and valleys, found in leaf litter and near woody debris or among rocks. It prefers richer habitats but is not restricted to them.

Taxonomy
Synonyms for V. suppressus are Helix suppressa and Zonites suppressus.

Distribution
Ventridens suppressus occurs from southeastern New York State, south to the mountains of North Carolina and inland to central Michigan (Hubricht, 1985). It is found throughout Virginia but is more common in the mountain counties.

NatureServe Global Rank: G5
NatureServe State Rank: S4

 

Ken Hotopp 12/2013

Range Map (click to enlarge)